Hinting he won't retire if cut, Boldin questions Ravens' loyalty

Mar. 9, 2013
|

Anquan Boldin of the Baltimore Ravens answers questions from the media during Super Bowl XLVII Media Day ahead. The Super Bowl hero is now on the verge of being released after refusing to take a pay cut. / Scott Halleran, Getty Images

by Robert Klemko, USA TODAY Sports

by Robert Klemko, USA TODAY Sports

TEMPE, Ariz -- Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anquan Boldin is unwilling to take a pay cut to stay with the team he helped win Super Bowl XLVII, and he's changing his tune about retiring rather than hitting the free agent market.

"When I signed with the Ravens, I signed for four years," Boldin told USA TODAY Sports on Saturday at a charity event hosted by former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner. "With me, it's all about principles. At no point, no matter how well I played, would I come back to the table and say, 'I need more money.'

"The contract that I signed was the contract that I intended to play out."

Boldin, entering the last year of his contract, is set to earn $6 million if still on the roster next season. He declined to confirm a USA TODAY Sports report that he turned down the Ravens' bid to restructure his deal. But he's no longer saying he'll retire if the Ravens release him.

"I love the Ravens; I love the organization," he said. "But at the same time, I think everybody understands it's a business, and that's something that I definitely understand. I love everything about the Ravens. But if things don't work out there, I'll sit with my family, we'll talk it over, pray about it and see what God is asking me to do.

"I know how the Ravens feel about me, from a coaching standpoint, from an organizational standpoint, from guys in the locker room. But sometimes the business side doesn't express that."

Boldin, 32, caught 65 passes for 921 yards last season and had six catches for 104 yards and a touchdown in a 34-31 Super Bowl victory vs. the San Francisco 49ers.

Boldin is preparing to become an unrestricted free agent if released, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because talks were ongoing.

Boldin's cap number for 2013 is $7.531 million, and the Ravens are trying to clear room to retain projected free agent linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, among other moves.

"Once (Anquan) has decided, you might as well try to move the Rock of Gibraltar," the person told USA TODAY Sports.

After the Ravens' Super Bowl victory against the San Francisco 49ers, Boldin told NBC Sports Radio that he would retire if released by the Ravens.

"I think he was trying to express loyalty to them," the person said. "I know that he's hoping to stay with them, but he's willing to go someplace else."

The person said that the Ravens' proposal to the 10-year pro did not include an extension.

It's possible a deal could be struck before Tuesday. Even with receivers Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones in tow, losing Boldin would be a huge blow for the Ravens, who locked up Super Bowl MVP quarterback Joe Flacco with a record six-year, $120.6 million contract on Monday.

Boldin was crucial during the Ravens' postseason run, scoring four touchdowns and averaging 17.3 yards on his 22 receptions. During Super Bowl XLVII, Boldin made two key third-down catches to set up a pair of fourth-quarter field goals.

During a news conference Monday, Flacco said the structure and settlement of his contract raised his hopes that Boldin would be retained.

"He's a big part of this offense," Flacco said. "He's a big reason why I'm standing here talking to you guys."